Photo: Ryan Hall Y'all/X

Plus Governor Newsom Approves Stronger Mortgage Relief for Fire Survivors

Welcome back to This Week in Disasters! This newsletter combines expert perspectives with a weekly roundup of upcoming threats, recent natural disasters, and available survivor assistance. If you’re an HR, Risk, Employee Assistance, or Emergency Management professional (or you’re just really curious about disasters in the United States!) you’re in the right place.

Major Risk Alert: Southeastern US Threatened by Potential Hurricane

A tropical wave, Invest 94L, is likely to become tropical storm Imelda this weekend. Here’s what you need to know:

• Best models currently show heavy rain, wind, and coastal impacts to parts of the Southeast U.S. (FL, GA, NC, SC)

  
  

• Early next week, Imelda may reach hurricane status and make landfall, but this is not guaranteed

  
  

• If you have employees in Florida, the Carolinas, or Georgia, now is the time to start planning for potential business disruption

Bright Harbor corporate clients will receive alerts over the weekend as the storm progresses. Want to get updates too? Reply to this email.

Survivors should review details carefully and consider professional guidance before making decisions on claims. Read More...

Major Disasters of the Last Week

Photo: John Finney Photography/Getty Images

Forecasted Risks for Next Week

Tropical Storm Humberto is forecasted to intensify and possibly reach major hurricane strength. It’s located in the Atlantic and is expected to mostly stay offshore, but could influence surf/marine conditions and pose indirect risks.

Flash/urban flooding threat across the Plains into the Ohio Valley and Appalachian Trails in Lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys, Southeast, and eastern Southern Plains

New Law Delivers Stronger Mortgage Protections for California Survivors

Governor Newsom signed new legislation that:

• Requires mortgage lenders and servicers to offer wildfire survivors at least 12 months of forbearance if their home was damaged or destroyed

• Prohibits foreclosure during that period

• Requires lenders to provide clear and written options for repayment

Survivors now have stronger rights to pause mortgage payments while rebuilding. Read the full announcement here.

Disasters in the Headlines

Fujiwhara effect explained: Here’s what can happen when two storms get too close together

CNN

Xcel Energy will pay $640M to settle claims from Denver-area wildfire that burned 1,000 structures

AP

Weather tracker: Tornado outbreak shatters North Dakota’s yearly record

The Guardian

PRO PERSPECTIVE

Takeaways from Climate Week NYC

At this year’s Climate Week NYC, Bright Harbor CEO Joel Wish joined global leaders, policymakers, and innovators to spotlight how climate resilience is no longer optional — it’s urgent. Key takeaways included:

• The rise of resilience: The industry story is moving from a general “climate” focus to resilience, adaptation, and energy dominance. It is no longer taboo to admit changes are happening and won’t be fully mitigated.

  
  

• Budget concerns: Uncertainty about where major infrastructure investments will come from to drive resilient communities. Early signs show less investment from the federal government, and states don’t have the money. The bright spot: private companies are increasingly investing in business continuity and resilience.

  
  

• Low awareness of upcoming risks: Even at a climate conference, very few people were aware that two potential hurricanes are brewing for next week. This was true even for corporations with massive employee presence in the Carolinas. A key question: as emergency managers and resilience leaders, how do we break through the noise to make sure people are adequately prepared?

Active Federal Major Disasters

There is usually a 60 day window to apply for help after a disaster is declared.  The following disasters are still actively taking applications from survivors for financial support.

The following disasters are actively taking applications from survivors for financial support. To apply, survivors can visit DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800‑621‑3362.

Sign up for This Week in Disasters here.

Need more support for your employees or constituents? Bright Harbor can help.